Iron is an important mineral our bodies need for proper growth, energy, and development. Iron is a part of hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues (NIH, 2022). It...
Food allergies are a reaction of your body’s immune system after eating certain foods (NHS, 2019). Even a small amount of a certain food can trigger an allergic reaction, causing symptoms that can range from...
Vaginal discharge is normal and helps keep your vagina healthy and clean. The skin cells of the cervix and vagina produce discharge to remove old cells, protect against infection, and lubricate the vaginal tissues (Mayo...
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver absorbs bilirubin from the blood and uses it to produce bile, a fluid that can break down fats...
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme that is found in the liver, muscles, heart, and blood. When cells that contain AST are inflamed or damaged, AST is released into the blood. This means that elevated...
A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a screening test for bowel cancer. This test checks for hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of bowel cancer. FIT tests are increasingly used to...
Bowel cancer is cancer that begins in the large bowel (colon) or rectum, and is one of the most common cancers in the world (Rawla et al., 2019). In 2020, there were more than 1.9...
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that is produced by the liver. Your liver releases more CRP into the bloodstream when there is inflammation in your body. Inflammation is part of your body’s immune response...
Thyroxine (T4) is one of the two major thyroid hormones that controls how your body uses energy. T4 is produced by the thyroid gland from tyrosine and iodine, and production is regulated by the pituitary...
